Myology and Serology of the Avian Family Fringillidae: A Taxonomic StudyStallcup, William B.
Science
Myology and Serology of the Avian Family Fringillidae: A Taxonomic Study
Stallcup, William B.
Birds; Finches
Since the muscle pattern of the leg in the Order Passeriformes is
thought to be one of long standing and slow change, any variation
which consistently distinguishes one group of species from another
could be significant. With the hope that such variation might be
found, a study of the comparative myology of the legs was undertaken.
The usefulness of comparative serology as a means of determining
relationship has been demonstrated in many investigations. Its use in
this instance was undertaken for several reasons: comparative serology
has its basis in biochemical systems which seem to evolve slowly; its
methods are objective; and its use has, heretofore, resulted in the
accumulation of data which seem compatible, in most instances, with
data obtained from other sources.
I acknowledge with pleasure the guidance received in this study from
Prof. Harrison B. Tordoff of the University of Kansas. I am indebted
also to Prof. Charles A. Leone without whose direction and assistance
the serological investigations would not have been possible; to
Professors E. Raymond Hall and A. Byron Leonard whose suggestions and
criticisms have been most helpful in the preparation of this paper;
and to T. D. Burleigh of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for gifts
of several specimens used in this work. Assistance with certain parts
of the study were received from a contract (NR163014) between the
Office of Naval Research of the United States Navy and the University
of Kansas.
MYOLOGY OF THE PELVIC APPENDAGE
General Statement
In an excellent paper in which the muscles of the pelvic appendage of
birds are carefully and accurately described, Hudson (1937) reviewed
briefly the more important literature pertaining to the musculature of
the leg which had been published to that date. A review of such
information here, therefore, seems unnecessary.
Myological formulae suggested by Garrod (1873, 1874) have been
extensively used by taxonomists as aids in characterizing the orders
of birds. Relatively few investigations, however, involving the
comparative myology of the leg have been undertaken at family and
subfamily levels. The works of Fisher (1946), Hudson (1948), and
Berger (1952) are notable exceptions.
The terminology for the muscles used in this paper follows that of
Hudson (1937), except that I have followed Berger (1952) in Latinizing
all names. Homologies are not given since these are reviewed by
Hudson. Osteological terms are from Howard (1929).
Materials and Methods
Specimens were preserved in a solution of one part formalin to eight
parts of water. Thorough injection of all tissues was necessary for
satisfactory preservation. Most of the down and contour feathers were
removed to allow the preservative to reach the skin.
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